The clarion., 1887-10-12
Sensation in a Nashville Church.

| Special to the Avalanche
NASHVILLE, Tenn, Oct. 9.-The CITY
is very deeply excited over a sensational
scene at McKendree Methodist Church
this morning. Rev. w. A. Gambler.
the pastor, preached sermon on thea
tre-going, and used very strong denunci-
| atory language in connection with thea
tres and theatre-goers. Speaking of
| actors and actresses, he spoke of them in
| the most uncomplimentary manner. He
concluded by saying that the stage coC Id
only be reformed by burning down all
the theatres.
Emma Abott, who was in the audi.
ence, arose, trembling with emotion and
very pale. She announced her name.
ard then said that she had been on the
stage since she was s years old and had
always tried conscientiousIy, to the best
of her ability, to do her duty before
God at ali times, and she would DEFY
any one In the whole world to say one
word against her fair name.
She said she would speak of such no.
BILE women as Jenny Lind, Albani, Mod
jeska and countless other lights of the
stage who had devoted themselves to
doing good deeds and who were noble
wives and mothers. The minister had
made an objection to prayers being sung
in the operas, but when she knelt down
to sing the prayer in Mignon and the
Bohemian Girl, those words came right
from her heart. In all the operas last
week there was no impure or improper
allusion, and because one occasionally
finds vice in the pulpit or upon the
stage there is no reason for such whole
sale denunciation which, in her opinion,
was extremely false and unealled for.
Before the deafening applause that
followed Miss Abbott's words had
ceased Mr. Gambler said: 81 will not un-
dertake to reply to the lady, as she is a
lady, but such a performance is more
suited to the theatre than to the house
of God"
Your reporter called on Miss Abbott
after her return to the hotel and found
her at dinner with her husband, hasten
ing through it in orGer to catch the
afternoon train to Chattanooga. She
was evidently much wrought up, and
was suffering from a feeling of injustice.
Her woman's soul had been deeply
wounded. "God knows" she said, II
have humbly tried to do my duty. Nv
father and my mother know if have
been true, womanly daughter to them
defy anyone to say they ever heard
aught against Emma Abbott. / have
had weeks hard work here, and after
two fatiguing performances yesterday 1
got up earlier than usual to day, to be
able to attend divine worship. / am a
member of the church, and always at
tend, if possible. l went humbly for
comfort and to ask Gods help to carry
me through another week safely. III
love congregational singing and love |
church music. / joined in all the hymns
and enjoyed them. took my seat near |
the door as always do. / went acci-
dentalIy to that church. In his sermon
1t first the minister gave utterance to |
anecdotes and illustrations that i |
thought entirely irrelevant in the pull
pit. Then he began to speak of thea
Tres and theatrical people, and made 4
wholesale denunciation of every one OF |
hem. could hardly contain myself.
BE did not make an exception, and how
,ould / keep silent? Emma Abbott
,rizes her name As woman as much q
he does her reputation as IN artiste.n
Rev. Mr.. Gambler declined to Be inter /,